Articles
August 07, 2024
Summer of action: Hill Runners engage lawmakers at home
With Congress in recess, this initiative looks to book in-person meetings at restaurants.
Hill Runners David Benowitz, second from right, and Robbie Soskin, fourth from left, recently hosted a restaurant roundtable with Senator Tina Smith (D-MN), center, at Soskin’s eatery, yum! Kitchen.
The National Restaurant Association’s award-winning Hill Runner program, which partners operators with their members of Congress to discuss the impact of legislation in their home states, launched a summer initiative aimed at giving those members of Congress a more personal connection with operators and the industry at home.
“There is no better place for operators to tell their stories to lawmakers than in their own restaurants, and August is an ideal time to do it since members of Congress are home for summer recess,” said Mike Whatley, the Association’s VP of State Affairs and Grassroots Advocacy. “The Hill Runners are working to build trust with their lawmakers and this opportunity is one more way for them to do that.”
During the month of August, the Association grassroots advocacy team is encouraging Hill Runners to engage their lawmakers in one of three ways.
Hill Runner Adam Rammel, second from left, hosts a restaurant roundtable with Congressman Jim Jordan (R-OH), center.
According to Whatley, the goal this summer is to get at least 50 meetings on the books. So far, his team and the Hill Runners are almost halfway toward meeting their goal, between operators who’ve already had meetings and those who are working to finalize plans with lawmakers.
“In a very busy political year, the Hill Runners have a real chance to cut through some of the noise and focus lawmakers on issues where they could make a big impact,” he says.
“There is no better place for operators to tell their stories to lawmakers than in their own restaurants, and August is an ideal time to do it since members of Congress are home for summer recess,” said Mike Whatley, the Association’s VP of State Affairs and Grassroots Advocacy. “The Hill Runners are working to build trust with their lawmakers and this opportunity is one more way for them to do that.”
During the month of August, the Association grassroots advocacy team is encouraging Hill Runners to engage their lawmakers in one of three ways.
- Host a restaurant tour so the member of Congress can experience the operation up close.
- Hold a restaurant roundtable so the lawmaker and his or her staff can hear from a group of restaurant operators in a restaurant setting.
- Schedule a one-on-one district office meeting to build relationships with a lawmaker and his or her district staff.
- Opposing the Federal Trade Commission’s proposed ban on surcharges, which includes service fees. The rule would force operators to create multiple menus for customers based on payment method, delivery or dine-in occasion, and even the dining party size, and rewrite how tipped workers get paid.
- Urging passage of the Credit Card Competition Act, which would create competition in the credit card processing marketing, helping lower swipe fees (one of an operator’s highest costs).
Hill Runner Adam Rammel, second from left, hosts a restaurant roundtable with Congressman Jim Jordan (R-OH), center.
According to Whatley, the goal this summer is to get at least 50 meetings on the books. So far, his team and the Hill Runners are almost halfway toward meeting their goal, between operators who’ve already had meetings and those who are working to finalize plans with lawmakers.
“In a very busy political year, the Hill Runners have a real chance to cut through some of the noise and focus lawmakers on issues where they could make a big impact,” he says.